These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Short-term effectiveness of a community-implemented falls prevention referral service.
    Author: Christoforou A, van der Linden ML, Koufaki P.
    Journal: Disabil Rehabil; 2018 Oct; 40(20):2466-2474. PubMed ID: 28608776.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the 16-week evidence-based Steady Steps exercise referral scheme at improving physical function, balance confidence, and quality of life (QoL) of community-dwelling older adults at risk of falling. METHOD: A non-experimental, practice-based study involving a retrospective analysis of participant outcomes. Pre-post comparisons of three performance-based measures of gait and balance and of person-reported outcomes for balance confidence and QoL were performed. Effectiveness was evaluated in terms of statistically significant changes and relative to published fall-risk thresholds and minimal detectable changes (MDCs) or minimum clinically important differences. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-six participants completed the program over 19 months. Statistically significant differences were observed for all outcomes (p < 0.001), translating to an overall 42.6% reduction in falls-related risk. Approximately 63% of participants achieved an improvement ≥MDC in at least one of the performance-based tests. Greater than 55% achieved self-reported improvements in balance confidence ≥ MDC, while >40% reported clinically important improvements in QoL. CONCLUSIONS: While the non-experimental design precludes conclusive evidence of causation, the highly significant and clinically meaningful improvements observed in individuals who completed the evidence-based Steady Steps program support its translation of evidence into effective practice. Continued implementation and evaluation of such practices and their longer-term effects are warranted. Implications for Rehabilitation Falls in older adults represent an escalating public health problem, and rehabilitation professionals are charged with developing and/or identifying feasible and effective evidence-based programs that target and reduce falls risk in this population. Our findings support Steady Steps as an effective third-sector referral rehabilitation service that successfully translates research evidence-based exercise interventions into effective practice, positively impacting physical function, balance confidence and quality of life (QoL) in community-dwelling older adults. Our study provides practice-based evidence of the effectiveness of exercise interventions that are progressively challenging, deliver a high dose of moderate to high intensity and target the main falls risk factors of muscle weakness and gait and balance impairment. In spite of their limitations, non-experimental, practice-based approaches provide rehabilitation professionals with feasible opportunities for evaluating existing services, such as Steady Steps, and contributing to the overall evidence-base for falls prevention and management.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]